SHE’S just getting better and better.
Suzuki-Wheeltek Racing Team, powered by Total Phils, had another dominant show as Jacq Buncio owned the racetrack once again with her two back-to-back champion wins with her reliable sportbike – the Suzuki GSX-R1000R at the Philippine Superbike (PSBK) Races – the Philippine Superbikes National (Nationals) Rookie Category and the Philippine Superbikes Cup (Pirelli Cup) Heavyweight A Class at the Batangas Racing Circuit recently.
Buncio, youngest sister of late superbikes’ legend Maico, continued to make history in the circuit following a perfect four wins out of four races in the series. She closed the gap in the Pirelli SBK Heavyweight A class championship title and extended her lead in the national rookie class after a perfect race weekend in Round 2.
So dominant was this 17-year-old lady racer among the best male superbikers in the circuit today, that she broke her lap record of 1:44 to 1:43.1 in the qualifying round, claiming her 1st pole position and then leading the race from start to finish with a new personal race lap record of 1:42.
As a living testament to Buncio’s growing stock, she is now backed by three giants in the motosports scene – Total Phils. Corp., Suzuki Motorcycle Philippines and Wheeltek Nationwide
“The support of Total, Suzuki and Wheeltek has been a very significant factor in my initial success as a superbikes’ racer. Their backing has kept me pushing further and testing the limits of what I’m capable of,” said Buncio, christened by racing fans as the “fastest Lady on Two Wheels.”
Her older sister Des Buncio, was the 2017 overall champion in the Lightweight A category and now racing in the Heavyweight B category, which was Jacq’s category last year. She is using a 600cc sports bike against her male foes’ bikes that are 1000cc and above, but she’s now the second overall points’ leader in the concluded first and second rounds of the 2018 series in her category .
Also contributing to the Sisters’ Act’s rise as one of the circuit’s star racers is Dashi Watanabe and his Watanabe Racing Development Team.
“It was Kuya Dashi Watanabe who enhanced our riding skills and we would like to thank him and the whole Watanabe Racing Development team, we owe you our overall improvement as a racer,” said the Buncio sisters.
Next up for Buncio, who is also backed by Total Excellium Fuel and Total Hi-Perf Motorcycle Oil, YRS Modifications, SSS Chain, KYT helmet, YSS suspension, Amaron Batteries, G4 Buko Pandan, Alesco and Galfer Brake system, is Round 3 of the series on July 7 and 8 at the Clark International Speedway, Pampanga.
Watanabe’s touch in Buncio’s racing was evident as early as the opening Round 1 of the series last April 21 and 22 at Batangas Racing Circuit.
It was Jacq’s first ever race using her new 1000cc bike, but she still came away with three podiums. Jacq only had three days to train, complete her bike setup and adjust her riding style to 1000cc, but from a 1:50 laptime, she went down to 1:47 in the qualifying. She struggled in Race 1 (Pirelli Group A) in which she couldn’t control the bike on her exit, but her team managed to get the right setup just in time for her Race 1 in the National and Race 2 Pirelli Cup.
The result was her best laptime of 1:44 as she emerged 1st Place in the National Novice Rookie SBK and 2nd Place in the National Novice SBK.
Next up for Buncio, who is also backed by Total Excellium Fuel and Total Hi-Perf Motorcycle Oil, YRS Modifications, SSS Chain, KYT helmet, YSS suspension, Amaron Batteries, G4 Buko Pandan, Alesco and Galfer Brake system, is Round 3 of the series on July 7 and 8 at the Clark International Speedway, Pampanga.